Balance-enhanced insert for footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear and insert for an article of footwear are provided with means for stimulating cutaneous pressure sensation from the perimeter of the plantar surface (sole) of the foot. Increasing cutaneous sensation from the perimeter of the plantar foot surface provides the central nervous system of the wearer of the footwear with an increased ability to detect and react to shifts of the body's center of gravity toward the edges of the feet which, if left uncorrected, could result in a loss of balance or a fall. An insole is disclosed which is provided with an elongate member or a series of protrusions which form a narrow ridge in close proximity to the perimeter of the insole, the ridge being adapted to protrude upwardly against the plantar foot surface along at least a portion of the perimeter thereof.

Description

The present invention relates to inserts for footwear, as well as footwear incorporating such inserts, which stimulate cutaneous pressure sensation from the edges of the feet (perimeter of the plantar foot surface) during standing and walking, and thereby improve the ability of the wearer's central nervous system to keep the body's center of gravity balanced and centered over the feet, particularly in persons who experience postural instability as a result of loss of cutaneous touch and pressure sensation due to aging or other factors.DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTOne of the more pervasive effects of aging is a loss of cutaneous touch and pressure sensation. The loss of cutaneous sensation in the plantar surface (sole) of the feet has been correlated with impaired postural control (poor balance) and an increased risk of falling. In order to maintain stable upright stance, the center of gravity of the body must be positioned over the base of support established by the feet. Loss of bal...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The loss of cutaneous sensation in the plantar surface (sole) of the feet has been correlated with impaired postural control (poor balance) and an increased risk of falling.

Loss of balance and falling occur if the body weight is shifted too close to the limits of this base of support, i.e. too close to the perimeter of the plantar foot surface.

However, providing increased cutaneous stimulation within the central regions of the plantar foot surface does not provide the central nervous system with information about the proximity of the center of gravity to the perimeter of the base of support, and has not been shown to improve a person's ability to react to a loss of balance and thereby avoid a fall.

Therefore, the prior art does not contain any examples of footwear inserts or articles of footwear which improve a person's ability to react to a loss of balance and thereby avoid a fall.

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